1#01
1
I accidentally overheard my husband, Jacob Lopez, talking to the doctor after my miscarriage.
"Find a way to sedate my wife and remove her uterus. Ensure she can never get pregnant again."
He then put his large hand on another woman's stomach and said, "Provide her with the best prenatal care. I want her baby to be the Lopez family heir."
I recognized the woman—she was a streamer from Jacob's company.
I heard him sternly remind the doctor once more, "And make sure my wife recovers well. If this operation causes her any problems, you'll all face severe consequences."
My heart sank. I never thought the man who once cherished me would suddenly turn against me.
Without hesitation, I left him with divorce papers, wishing them well in their "relationship."
——
As I made my way back to my room, I kept replaying what I had just seen.
The husband who once treated me like a treasure, claiming to love me unconditionally, was now planning to betray me—arranging for someone to take away my ability to have children.
And he knew better than anyone how much I wanted to be a mother.
A young nurse looked at me admiringly as she passed by and said, "Her husband is amazing. He booked this entire floor for her to rest. He even hired special nurses to look after her. And that's not all—he's staying with her around the clock. Isn't he just the most devoted husband?"
Another nurse chimed in, "When she had bleeding after the miscarriage, her husband cried until his eyes were puffy. I've never seen a man so worried about his wife. I heard they've been together since school. He even moved his whole family business into her name to marry her."
If I had heard this before, I would have felt incredibly lucky.
But now, it made me feel sick to my stomach.
Just then, Jacob's angry voice echoed from a nearby room, "You're all incompetent! It's just one person, and you can't keep track of her?! If anything happens to Larissa, you'll all pay for it!"
Jacob rarely got angry. The last time was when I was seriously ill, and no hospital could cure me. He was so desperate that he nearly destroyed the hospital and even thought about dying with me.
But now, seeing the veins popping on his forehead didn't move me. I simply said calmly, "Jacob, I'm here."
The moment he saw me, his face lit up. He rushed over and hugged me tightly.
"Larissa, where did you go? Why didn't you tell me? I thought something bad had happened to you." His voice shook with worry, sounding so real it was hard not to believe him.
I softly pushed him away and said, "The room felt stuffy, so I went for a walk."
Only then did he relax, though he still held my hand firmly, not wanting to let go.
Soon, he took a bowl of medicine from the nurse and brought it to my lips with seemingly unwavering tenderness. "Darling, it's time for your medicine."
Looking at the bowl of dark, brown liquid, I felt a shiver down my spine. The scene I had witnessed earlier flashed through my mind.
"This medicine is bitter. I don't want to drink it," I refused.
In the past, Jacob would never go against my wishes. But this time, he unusually persisted, "If you don't take your medicine, you won't get better, and you won't be able to have a baby. Didn't you always want to give me a child?"
He knew my desire for a child was my weak spot, sure that mentioning it would convince me.
But I no longer trusted him. Without hesitation, I knocked the bowl out of his hands.
"I said I'm not drinking it." I stated flatly.
For a moment, his gentle expression froze, and a hint of annoyance crossed his eyes.
I thought breaking the bowl would let me escape, but the next second, everything went black, and I lost consciousness.
2#02
2
I regained consciousness the following day.
An ominous feeling settled over me. I lifted the covers to discover a surgical incision across my stomach.
My life seemed to fall apart in an instant. I intended to question Jacob, but he spoke first, saying, "Darling, you collapsed unexpectedly yesterday evening. The medical team conducted examinations and discovered malignant growths in your uterus, so I authorized its removal."
Concerned I might doubt him, he presented me with the medical documentation. Indeed, it indicated uterine cancer.
Had I not personally observed his directives to the physician, I might have accepted his deception.
Gazing at the unsightly mark on my abdomen, I felt as if my soul had been torn asunder, leaving only an abyss of anguish.
Jacob embraced me, his tone sympathetic as he attempted to console me. "Darling, I understand your lifelong desire for a child, but your wellbeing is my primary concern. I can't fathom losing you. If necessary, we can always consider adoption."
I started to speak, but the door's hinges creaked before I could utter a word.
Daisy entered, carrying a basket of fruit.
"Pardon the intrusion. I'm here on the company's behalf to check on Mrs. Lopez."
Daisy was a recently contracted streamer at Cosmic Entertainment. Attractive, with an ideal physique and engaging personality, her broadcasts generated substantial revenue for the company.
It was easy to see why Jacob might prefer her.
Jacob's demeanor remained unchanged. He acknowledged her with a nod, then redirected his focus to me.
However, I sensed that beneath his composed exterior, turmoil lurked.
I turned away from them, suppressing my feelings, and said, "I'm exhausted. I'd like to sleep."
I expected Daisy to depart, but surprisingly, she remained. She sat quietly nearby, accompanying Jacob.
Jacob stayed by my side, thoughtfully kneading my shoulders. Daisy, meanwhile, sat modestly, seemingly portraying the picture of familial harmony.
Yet unseen, beneath the bed, Daisy was discreetly caressing Jacob's leg with her own.
He didn't stop her, permitting her actions until she grew bolder. Only then did he reach out, firmly grasping her thigh to halt her flirtation.
But Daisy persisted. She moved behind him, embracing him from behind, nuzzling against him like an affectionate feline.
Jacob glanced at me, ensuring my eyes were shut and my breathing even, as if I were in deep slumber. Emboldened, he turned and pressed Daisy against the nearby table, gripping her neck as he kissed her.
He quickly withdrew, his icy gaze warning her to behave.
But Daisy was undaunted. She clung to him once more, wrapping herself around him.
This time, Jacob couldn't resist. After one final look in my direction, he took her hand and led her out of the room.
As the door closed behind them, I opened my eyes.
Jacob would never suspect that every detail of his interaction with Daisy had been reflected in the glass, allowing me to witness everything with perfect clarity.
I silently followed them to a secluded area.
Concealed behind a pillar, I observed Jacob gripping Daisy's neck, his jaw clenched as he growled, "Didn't I tell you to control yourself around Larissa?"
Daisy remained unintimidated. She leaned flirtatiously against his arm and pouted. "It's just that you've been so preoccupied with her lately. The baby and I miss you."
She traced her fingers along his chest, her voice sultry, "Mr. Lopez, haven't you always wanted to try something more thrilling? Let's do it. This floor has no surveillance, and your wife is sound asleep. No one will ever know."
Before Jacob could reply, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
3#03
3
Jacob remained still for a second before swiftly cradling Daisy's head, intensifying their kiss.
"Jacob, please be careful. I'm concerned about the baby's wellbeing..." she whispered.
"Be quiet. I know exactly what I'm doing."
I couldn't stand to observe what followed. As I hastily departed, their hushed words of affection reverberated in my ears, piercing my heart like sharp fragments.
The man who had once promised to cherish me eternally was now secretly meeting another woman behind my back.
It felt as if an unseen force had struck me across the face. The shame was overwhelming, engulfing me like quicksand. My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the ground in a pitiful and ridiculous heap.
A nurse passing by rushed to assist me. Noticing the tears streaming down my cheeks, she assumed I had injured myself and consoled me, "Ma'am, please don't cry. Mr. Lopez would be heartbroken if he saw you like this."
Seeing the nurse's concerned expression, I could no longer contain my emotions. I burst into uncontrollable sobs.
After weeping until I was completely drained, I returned to my room and fell onto the bed.
When I regained consciousness, Jacob was still absent. Instead, Daisy stood at the foot of my bed, her expression grim.
Her gaze held no trace of respect. Instead, she looked at me contemptuously and taunted, "You witnessed what happened earlier, didn't you? Jacob loves me. I'm expecting his child."
I clenched my fists and trembled as I inquired, "How long have you two been together?"
Daisy smirked, raising three fingers with an air of triumph.
"Three years. Three years ago, he encountered me at a dinner party and fell for me instantly. That very night, he spent the entire evening in my company. Upon returning, he felt guilty about you, so he transferred all his assets to your name. But those belongings were meant for me and my baby. You've taken what rightfully belongs to us!"
I bit my lip hard, resisting the urge to strike her.
Observing my restraint only emboldened Daisy further. She added arrogantly, "Do you believe he truly loves you? Every night after you fall asleep, he comes to me. Even now, with me pregnant, he can't stay away. And just so you're aware, on the day of your miscarriage, he wasn't at some business meeting—he was in my bed, enjoying himself. He can't live without me anymore. If you're wise, you'll grant him a divorce willingly."
Her words struck me like a hammer blow. I recalled that day—the excruciating pain that caused me to lose consciousness multiple times, the near-death experience from blood loss.
The doctors called Jacob ten times, but he didn't respond. Eventually, his phone was switched off.
The following day, he returned and knelt by my bedside, claiming he had been trapped in a business meeting. He loathed himself for not being present and even slapped himself repeatedly as punishment.
But in reality, while I was writhing in agony and struggling for life, he was indulging in pleasure with another woman.
The last glimmer of hope I harbored for him shattered completely. My heart turned cold and lifeless.
Daisy, noting my defeated state, grew even more arrogant. With hands on her hips, she sneered, "Oh, and tomorrow, Jacob will be marrying me. It's going to be even more extravagant than the wedding he gave you. Don't forget to join us in celebration!"
With that, she strutted out of the room like a triumphant rooster, her head held high.
As I watched her retreating figure, pain throbbed in my chest. The next moment, darkness enveloped me, and I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already the following morning. The first thing I saw was Jacob, his eyes bloodshot as he sat beside me, keeping vigil.
The moment he noticed I was awake, he pulled me into his arms, his voice thick with emotion.
"Larissa, you're finally conscious. You terrified me just now."
The memory of what I had witnessed in the storage room flashed through my mind, filling me with revulsion. I pushed him away.
"I'm fine," I said coldly.
Jacob froze for a moment, stunned by my rejection. A flicker of hurt flashed in his eyes.
